Oklahoma

2010

Signature Deadline in 2010: No later than September 2010
Number of Signatures Needed to Qualify: 117,013 (statutory initiative); 219,400 (constitutional amendment)
Gubernatorial Election in 2010: Open Seat
US Senate Election in 2010: Coburn (R)

Nine ballot initiatives have qualified for the Oklahoma ballot.

Two competing education measures will go before voters. The “HOPE Act.” The Oklahoma Education Association turned in petitions bearing 234,446 voter signatures. Only 138,970 signatures were needed to get the proposal to a vote. The measure would raise per-student funding of schools to the regional average of $8,300 a year, which would cost about $850 million. Oklahoma now spends about $6,900 a year per student. Oklahoma ranks 46th in per pupil expenditures and 42nd in teacher pay.

The competing measure would ask voters to ignore passage of the “HOPE Act”, by providing that the Legislature shall not be required to make expenditures for any function of government using a predetermined formula of any kind or by reference to the expenditure levels of any other state government or any other entity.

An “English only” measure will also be on the ballot. This amendment states that English is the common and unifying language of the state. All official actions of the state would be in English, except as required by federal law. No one would have a cause of action against an agency or subdivision of the state for failure to provide actions in any other language. The amendment could not be construed to diminish or impair uses of Native American languages.

In 2009 the Legislature attempted to pass several controversial issues yet many failed upon getting vetoed by the Governor. As a result the Legislature is sending several referenda to voters. One of these referred would require voters to present photo identification issued by the state, federal government or a tribe. The League of Women Voters and the American Association of Retired People oppose the ballot measure. They argue that approximately 21 million registered voters across the United States and 78,000 Oklahomans do not have the required identification and could be negatively affected by voter ID bills. Governor Brad Henry citied that the proposed measure would have created “an unnecessary impediment” to voting and was in conflict with the Oklahoma Constitution when he vetoed the measure. The governor also said that the bill would hinder minorities, the elderly and the poor from voting.

2008

For more 2008 election information, click here.

For additional information please check with the Oklahoma Secretary of State: http://www.sos.state.ok.us/